Event: Party at Rush!

[eldorado_npc]

Rush tended to be much busier on the weekends.

There was something about the atmosphere that attracted people to it. They had many regulars who came in with their friends for drinks, businesses that threw their parties in the dining rooms, and curious newcomers who stepped in to get a look at the place and left several hours later. The bar always

Comments

wandering around

[herfatherseyes]

She had gotten separated from her father. Well alright, it was more that she had run off while he was talking to a pretty girl. But after wandering around for a bit she had begun to feel more than a little bit scared. When she came across the restaurant and saw all the people inside, she figured that maybe that would be a good place to wait. When she came into the restaurant she was more than a little confused. What with lots of people and everything that was going on. Most of the restaurants Tali had been in were very kid friendly and had things like balloons and ice cream.

For awhile she just wandered around, looking up at any of the men she saw in hopes that one of them was her father or would know where to find them, but the now six year old was too nervous to actually ask. And everyone seemed so busy with the things that they were doing. At the very least, maybe she could disappear into the crowd and sort of just wait until someone noticed her. She had yet to really figure out the little communication device, but she held it hoping that maybe she'd get contacted on it.

[daughterof_evil]

Sasha was still looking around for Bruce when she noticed someone looking very out of place in the restaurant. There was a little girl walking around who didn't seem to be there with any of the adults at the bar. She probably should have left her alone in case an angry parent walked up, but she didn't want to let the girl continue to wander on her own, either. Sasha didn't know a lot about kids, but she did know that didn't belong in bars, especially by themselves.

She approached her slowly, offering the little girl a small smile. "Hi there," she said cheerfully, trying not to let too much concern seep into her voice. Still, she found herself smoothing over her dress and kneeling down to meet her at her own level, hoping she wouldn't start crying on her. "My name's Sasha. I saw you walking around and thought maybe you could use some help."

[herfatherseyes]

Unlike both her parents Tali had grown up in a very safe and comforting world. So strangers had never been an issue for her. She was often a very excitable and friendly girl. Her parents could definitely be over protective and worry about who she spoke to, but there had never been cause for real concern. So when she was approached by a lady who she thought was very pretty, she offered a smile. "Hi Sasha. I'm Tali." The only thing that left her reserved was because she couldn't find her father. Back at home he'd never allow that to happen, but here he wasn't used to being a parent.

"I don't know where my Daddy went. So I am waiting for him to find me. I was told that I should stay in one place if I am alone."

[daughterof_evil]

"It's very nice to meet you, Tali." Sasha extended a hand, still looking around to see if anyone would claim her. Tali's explanation had her a little confused as to why a man would go anywhere without his kid, but she wasn't going to comment on that to the little girl. They could call him once she had a name, and if Tali needed someone to sit and wait with her, Sasha wouldn't mind irritating Bruce by being the late one for a change.

"That's really good advice, but there are so many grown-ups in here that you might be hard for him to find, sweetheart. How about we go sit down and figure out where your dad is? I'll get you a Shirley Temple and we can check out the menu if you're hungry. We'll pick a spot and stay there until your dad shows up."

[herfatherseyes]

"It's nice to meet you too." Tali of course would not admit that it was really her fault for running off. She'd just wanted to go to see the toys, and he'd kept saying: "In a minute." So eventually she had decided she'd go on her own. But that had ended up with her getting lost. But Sasha seemed nice, and Tali immediately liked her. Especially when she came up with such a great idea as Shirley Temples and food. "I only get to have Shirley Temples on really special occasions."

Eagerly Tali took her hand. At least now she was no longer alone and that left her with a feeling of relief. Her father would find her eventually. Or send a message. Then they would be back together, but at least for now she was with someone who was being so kind to her. "Thanks, for being so nice Sash."

[daughterof_evil]

"That's for being so sweet, Tali." She gave her hand a gentle squeeze and straightened up, walking her over to the nearest empty booth. After taking a seat across from her, she handed Tali the menu and ordered her that Shirley Temple as soon the waiter came over, along with a water for herself.

While she waited for Tali to decide what she wanted, Sasha took out her phone and sent Bruce a quick text message. As much as she enjoyed turning the tables on him, she liked having a job more. He might not ever fire her, but the man could hold a grudge. "Do you know what your dad's name is?" she asked, looking up from her contact list. It was entirely possible that Tali didn't, especially when she considered how many years she had spent thinking her own father's name was 'Daddy'. "And more important than that, what looks good to eat?"

[herfatherseyes]

Tali took the menu with a very polite: "Thank you." Then she began to look over it. She was going into first grade but she hadn't really learned to read that many words yet. But she liked looking older and mature, so it was pretty damn awesome in her mind that she got to have a menu. Finally she decided that she wanted chicken nuggets and french fries. Hopefully that was really on the menu, because she wanted to look smart for her new friend. "I think I'm going to have chicken nuggets and french fries."

She was definitely used to her father being Daddy. But she searched her memory for what it was that her mother called him. Luckily she had less nicknames for him than he had for her. So closing her eyes tightly she began to think. "Uh...Daddy is...they call Daddy....TONY!" She gave a happy nod at being able to pull that from her memory.

[daughterof_evil]

As far as Sasha was concerned, they were going to have to learn how to make chicken nuggets tonight if they didn't already offer them. She understood the type of customers that Rush generally catered to, but Tali couldn't have been the first little girl to eat in the restaurant. "Tony, huh? I wonder how many Tonys there are in El Dorado." She could send a mass text message to all of them. The right one must have already known his daughter was missing, and would be happy to get it.

"Three Anthonys and one Antonio," she laughed, starting to type in her message. "We're going to make three men very confused, and one very relieved." The note, which only took her a minute to write out, was fairly simple:

Found: One beautiful, well-mannered little girl. Answers to the name Tali, is sitting with me at Rush. Is she yours?

Will be giving her all the Shirley Temples she can drink until her dad arrives.

She slipped her phone back in the front pocket of her handbag as soon as she received notification that the message had sent, and put in Tali's order for chicken nuggets and french fries without any trouble. "I bet he's really worried. Whenever my dad lost track of me, it always ended with me getting whatever I wanted. Clothes, dolls, ice cream, you name it." Maybe that wasn't the nicest thing to teach Tali, but it was true.

"My dad was my best friend in the whole world. Is your dad nice?"

[herfatherseyes]

Now that Sasha was taking care of contacting her father she was beginning to relax. When her Shirley Temple arrived she took a big sip, closing her eyes in the obvious euphoria that children seem to get. She had giggled over her comment about more than one Tony, and now thought about how many other people there were out. "Hopefully they don't all have little girls named Tali. That would be really silly."

She took the cherry out of her glass, not caring the her fingers got wet from the soda and she popped the whole thing into her mouth.

"I hope my Daddy buys me some new toys. He did for my birthday, but I get more bored here, so I need more toys." Oh the logic. "But yeah he's the best. We do lots of things together back home, we play in the park, he reads me books. We watch lots of movies. Mommy plays with us too. She isn't here, and Daddy doesn't know me. He doesn't know he has me."